A new mayor and three councilmembers take officeTonight marks a change in Oro Valley's leadership as the Town Council welcomes three newly elected members and a new mayor. Current Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett will become mayor, succeeding Joe Winfield, who chose not to seek reelection. Rosa Dailey, Rhonda Piña, and Matt Wood will take their seats on the Council. All four were elected in July and will serve four-year terms ending in October 2030. They join continuing councilmembers Mary Murphy, Harry “Mo” Greene II, and Elizabeth Robb, whose terms run through October 2028.
Melanie Barrett: From councilmember to mayor
Barrett has served on the Oro Valley Town Council since 2018 and currently serves as vice mayor. An attorney by training, she earned her law degree from Brigham Young University. Before joining the Council, she served on the Town's Planning and Zoning Commission from 2015 to 2018, participating in the development of the 2016 General Plan. An Oro Valley resident since 2009, Barrett brings eight years of Council experience to the mayor's office.
Dailey is known locally for her leadership in the effort to preserve the former Vistoso Golf Course property, which became the 202-acre Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. She was also involved in efforts leading to the creation of the Oro Valley Aquatic Center. Her professional background includes insurance adjusting, technical writing, and leadership of a medical research nonprofit organization. During her campaign, Dailey emphasized public safety, fiscal responsibility, water sustainability, and responsible development.
Rhonda Piña: Returning to the Town Council
Piña returns to the Council after previously serving from 2016 to 2020. She brings nearly three decades of banking experience and currently serves as Deputy Director for Workforce Development for Pima County. She also serves on the Tucson Airport Authority Board of Directors. Her campaign priorities included public safety, budget accountability, and strategic economic development.
Matt Wood: From community boards to Town Council
Wood has served on the Rancho Vistoso Homeowners Association Board since 2021 and as its president since 2023. He has also served on the Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, including as its chair. Wood holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and an MBA. During his campaign, he emphasized fiscal responsibility, protecting neighborhood character, maintaining public infrastructure, and considering the financial impacts of annexation and development.
Mary Murphy: Continuing her community involvement
Murphy joined the Council in 2024. Before her election, she served on the Town's Board of Adjustment, reviewing zoning variance requests. Her professional background includes biomedical research, nursing, and dementia care. She has also been active in community organizations, including Rockin' 4 Heroes and efforts supporting the Arizona Heroes Memorial at Naranja Park. As a councilmember, Murphy devotes considerable time to community outreach, attending numerous events and activities throughout Oro Valley to meet with residents and stay connected with the community.
Harry “Mo” Greene II: Medicine, education, and the arts
Greene brings a background in medicine, education, publishing, and community arts. A physician, he has held leadership positions at several medical institutions, including the University of Arizona, and served as publisher of the New England Journal of Medicine. He is also an artist and has served as president of the Southern Arizona Arts Guild and chair of the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council.
Elizabeth Robb: Military service, small business, and community rescue
Robb joined the Council in 2024 after a career that included 13 years of military service in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of captain. An Oro Valley resident since 1998, she has volunteered for many years with the Southern Arizona Rescue Association. She also operates Elizabeth's Garden, a small business associated with the Oro Valley Farmers Market. Her community involvement includes schools, scouting, and emergency rescue activities.
A new Council begins its work
The November 4 installation will bring together a mayor with eight years of Council experience, three incoming councilmembers with different backgrounds in community service and public administration, and three continuing members. The seven-member Council will be responsible for setting Town policy, approving budgets, adopting ordinances, and providing direction to Town management. Its members will face ongoing decisions involving finances, development, water resources, public safety, and the future of Oro Valley.
- - -
